Justin – Isosceles – Paso Robles – 2005

After 10 hours in the car, it was such a relief to pull up to my brother’s home in LA. Not only has it been too long since I have seen him, but I knew there was the chance of really good wine…and I wasn’t wrong! Doug and Minda have a membership with Justin Vineyards & Winery (it’s a new thing, check it out!)


This wonderful red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot. Based out of Paso Robles, California, this could potentially be considered its flagship wine. The label provides a somewhat serious description of the growing, harvesting, blending and eventual bottling of this wine. Although rather dry reading, it gives the drinker a great basis for understanding the incredible woodsy flavors that inhabit the deep red depths of the glass.

A generous sniff provides the recipient with plenty of blackberry and you may even get some of the french oak that this wine is aged in. As you may know from prior posts, I am no wine aficionado, but this is quite something else. I have no clue how much it costs, but I am fairly certain that it will not fall within my $10 budget. Additionally, you probably won’t find it at the liquor store, at least in Utah. There is an off chance that you may find it at a restaurant, or the odd wine distributor. I am pretty sure it will cost you more that (quite a bit more), than most of the wines you purchase and drink immediately. But, you have to find it. It is a wine that you can fall into oh so easily – slightly spicy, with generous fruit flavors.

Minda, who has more experience with Justin wines than I do, and has tasted more aged Isosceles wines, feels that is could age a little longer. In the past, older Isosceles (bottles which had been put away, forgotten, and re-discovered years later), resulted in full, velvety flavors, that she remembers with fond words, as though reminiscing about old friends. And, those of you who have tasted the really delicious aged wines, know that a great wine is like an old friend, it holds your hand, tells you everything will be just fine, and puts you to bed with a gentle hug and kiss.

I recommend you start looking for a bottle, and put it away in a cool (around 52 degrees), dark place, on it’s side. Forget about, then when you are re-modelling, moving or doing some long needed spring cleaning and find it – open it up, let it take a breath, and sit down to enjoy with a good friend. Minda and I have made short work of several bottles of Justin red this weekend, so you may want to find more than one!

Cheers!

Concannon – Merlot – 2007

About a year ago, I found a delightful Petit Syrah by Concannon, in a great bottle. Yes, being of the female persausion, packaging is important to me. The bottle, embossed with the Concannon “logo”, had a real foil top, something you don’t find too often these days. I grabbed a bottle, we tried it, and decided that it would be our anniversary wine.


Recently, I bought a bottle of their Merlot, after enjoying the Petit Syrah so much. We opened it tonight, to drink with londron broil, roast potatoes, onion and mushrooms, and some peas. It was a simple meal, and I thought the Merlot might accompany it quite well.

This Merlot is uncomplicated, and starts out very easily. Tony finds it rather dry on the finish, not as enjoyable as the Petite Syrah (don’t worry, I have two bottles on hand, I shall blog about it soon!). That said, I really enjoy it. It is dry, and less “fruity” than some of the Shiraz & Pinot Noir we have been drinking. The label talks of blackberry and cherry, both of which I can imagine as I drink it, although I would not have come up with those analogies myself. Well, blackberry, definitely, try swishing it across your tongue, it will happen.

It is always a good idea to try other “genre’s” of wine, and this is a good choice to broaden your “mighty grape” horizon. With a price of $9.99, this proves to be a great value, although next time I think it will be better suited to a bolognese sauce.

Later in the evening, I added some Coastal cheddar (Costco) and Creminelli Barolo Handcrafted salami (www.creminelli.com). Both are delicious in their own right. The addition of the Merlot makes for a fabulous ménage a trios - most of you know I am partial to cheese and wine, but add some salami, and the experience is positively blissful.

I recommend extending your wine experience to some Merlot, and this is a must try!



Cheers.

Castillo de Molina - Sauvignon Blanc - Chile - 2009

As summer approaches (no matter how slowly), I have been stocking up on some whites that seem to be worth trying.  So, as we prepared for our annual Mothers Day dinner at Market Street Grill, I had quite a selection from which to make a decision, and since Sauvignon Blanc has been making a regular appearance on my shopping list of late, it should come as no surprise that I ended up choosing one.

Knowing what I was to eat made it easier, as Market Street is celebrating Alaskan Halibut, and they know how to cook it right!  I was prepared to order the same meal that I had last year, Seafood Florentine, and this wine would be the perfect companion.

Perfect, if not for the one hour wait, which brought my wine to room temperature, and the waitress who decided to pour it at room temperature.  I know, rude!  Prior to that, we had ordered delicious Hickory Smoked Salmon to keep us going, and two glasses of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, by Matua.  That particular white was overly sweet, and I absolutely do not recommend it, unless you enjoy puckering after every sip.

Even at room temperature, this white is delightful.  Slightly smokey, with some fruit, and a clean finish, that didn't linger past it's welcome.  Now, I am enjoying it chilled (the day after), with a brownie and vanilla ice cream (dessert after a fabulous Mothers Day of steak prepared by Tony). 

The wine has stood up well, crisp, fresh, clean - everything you want from a Sauvignon Blanc.  Still lightly smokey, with plenty of gooseberry to keep it interesting.  And that finish, it leaves you wanting more, and then some more. 

This is definitely a wine I could easily drink myself, the entire bottle, in one evening.  Jealously guarding each drop for myself, I want to experience it as it develops from chilled to warm temperature.  With birds singing their evening chorus in the background, I can settle in for a relaxing evening, with what will become a regular guest in our household (temporary only, wine just doesn't last long around here!).

Please accept my apologies for no photo - digital camera is dead!

Unfortunately, I did not keep the reciept, but I am pretty sure it is affordable, less than $10.  Definitely worth it, especially if you want to become more familiar with white.  This wine is sure to please.

Cheers.